On April 18-19, 2004, the Global Technology for Social Justice Lab (GloTech) was officially launched. With the guiding principle of “Beyond Borders, Bits, and Biases”, the new Lab explores tech innovation, design and activism beyond Silicon Valley in favor of comparative analysis and trust network-building across countries and regions. Friday’s event—entitled Empowering Election Integrity in the Global Majority— was the Lab’s official launch event and “coming out” party to the UMass community and beyond. This GloTech workshop followed through with their long-term efforts to build transnational solidarities in the tech and democracy space—especially in a year of pivotal elections in Brazil, India, Ghana, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States.
Over two days, scholars, advocates, storytellers, campaigners, institution-builders, and community leaders in attendance made the most of opportunities for field visioning and agenda-setting, career mentoring, and convivial exchange. Several panels were held on Friday including: Custom Built/Feito Sob Medida: Strategy Blueprint for Global Majority Election Coalitions and Fostering Transnational Solidarities in Tech and Democracy Space. The afternoon was used for breakout sessions with subject matter covering: AI Tools and Computational Resources for Data Journalists, Defunding Disinformation and Exposing Illicit Influence Economies, and Building Bold and Visionary Centers and Offering Whole-Person Support. Researchers from UMASS Amherst were joined by panel members from around the world including: Brazil, Africa, England, and the United States.
GloTech Lab official launch
